Durham Bulls pitcher adds to all-star collection

Even though J.D. Martin has had a number of all-star opportunities, he’s still prone to look at the benefits of a little more baseball in the middle of a busy season.

The Durham Bulls right-hander will play in the Triple-A All-Star Game tonight in Reno, Nev., with the possibility that he could be the starting pitcher for the International League team.

Martin, 30, said he figures whatever his role for the game that it’s a sign of solid work to this point in the season.

“It’s always a good thing,” he said of the all-star selection. “It can’t hurt.”

He’s one of three Durham players picked for the game, which pits the International League against the Pacific Coast League. Infielder Vince Belnome and relief pitcher Kirby Yates also are on the visiting squad.

Martin said he’d be honored if he’s the starter tonight, but he figures he’ll throw one inning whenever he’s called upon. He was limited to five innings in Sunday’s game in Durham so that there were options available to him for the all-star assignment.

“I’d be fine going there and hanging out,” Martin said.

Martin, a right-hander, began his professional career in 2001 with the Burlington Indians in the Appalachian League.

This is the sixth time Martin, who holds big-league time in 2009 and 2010 with the Washington Nationals, said he has been invited to a minor-league all-star game and this marks the third time he’ll attend. Two other times he was promoted to another level before the game, and another time he was injured.

He represented the Syracuse Chiefs in the 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game.

Martin (11-4) has the most victories in the International League to go with a 3.02 earned run average.

“Martin just hangs in there,” Durham manager Charlie Montoyo said.

Martin lives outside Las Vegas, so this particular assignment is in the same state. But he said it’s a considerable trek between the two cities, so he wasn’t planning a stop at home.

With what he said should be a stress-free game experience, he has an idea of what would be a convenient outcome.

“Hopefully, everyone just grounds out and we go out and have fun,” Martin said, sounding like a pitcher.

Belnome, who was also selected for the 2011 Texas League All-Star Game, rates second in International League batting at .338. His 60 walks rank third (helping him to a league-best .443 on-base percentage) and his 26 doubles put him tied for fifth.

The 25-year-old played in Reno last year when he was in the San Diego Padres organization. He’s pegged as the starting third baseman tonight.

“I look at it as a positive thing,” he said. “Must be doing something right if you get selected.

Belnome is from Pennsylvania, so playing in the International League he has seen familiar faces on some road trips. He said he’ll take his girlfriend along this week and that Reno will be a good destination.

“I’ve been feeling good,” he said, keeping a reduced physical toll from the season. “I’ve seen my family a good bit so it’s not like I haven’t seen them.”

Yates, a 26-year-old right-hander, will be in his first all-star game. He has made the rise since signing with the parent Tampa Bay Rays as a non-drafted free agent in 2009.

“So I’m excited,” he said. “It’s about having fun. Hopefully, I’ll take full advantage of it.”

Yates is 3-1 with 10 saves and a 1.03 earned run average in a team-high 36 appearances. He has 70 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.

Two former Bulls are also on the International League roster. They are pitcher Chris Bootcheck of Scranton / Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and outfielder Jason Pridie of the Norfolk Tides.

Nashville Sounds reliever Rob Wooten, a former University of North Carolina standout, is on the Pacific Coast League team. He’s in his first full Class AAA season. He’s 0-1 with 18 saves and a 3.12 ERA.

Tacoma Rainiers reliever Brian Moran, also a former North Carolina pitcher, is on the PCL team for the Triple-A All-Star Game.